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CNN Live At Daybreak

Yates' Last Psychiatrist Obstacle to Insanity Defense

Aired March 05, 2002 - 06:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The psychiatrist who treated Andrea Yates two days before she killed her children is not helping her insanity defense. Our David Mattingly has the latest on the mom murder trial.

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DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was the last psychiatrist to see Andrea Yates before she killed her five children. Dr. Mohammed Saeed also a lingering medical obstacle to Yates' defense of not guilty by reason of insanity, because two days before Saeed met Yates and saw no evidence of psychosis.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It certainly looked like somebody dropped the ball somewhere, doesn't it?

MATTINGLY: On the witness stand, intense questioning from the defense. Saeed, forced to explain decisions he made treating Yates during two hospital stays and as an outpatient from late March until June 18. Strongly questioning his judgment, attorneys noted Saeed at first did not consult Yates' previous psychiatric records from 1999 when she twice attempted suicide and was diagnosed psychotic. Saeed once discharged Yates while she was on a suicide watch.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I already knew he was relatively incompetent, and he just proved himself.

MATTINGLY: Much attention from the defense focused on Saeed's handling of Yates' medication. Yates' use of the anti-psychotic drug Haldol was discontinued 16 days before she drowned her children in the family bathtub. Saeed left the courtroom today without comment.

On Tuesday a possible return of the expert witness for the defense, Dr. Phillip Resnick, who last week told the jury that Andrea Yates was so delusional she could not have known right from wrong.

David Mattingly, CNN, Houston.

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